Whether it is in school, at home or on a field trip, I believe children learn best when they are actively involved in the learning process.

When I plan a field trip, I like to set up additional learning opportunities for my children at home.

A few summers ago, my family and I spent time exploring the beaches of Southern California. We also visited the Long Beach Aquarium.

I decided that I wanted to expand upon what we were learning “on the road” with additional activities at home. Here’s a small glimpse into what we did.

Enjoying Newport Beach

Long Beach Aquarium, August 2012

The Touch Tank @ The Long Beach Aquarium

Shark Teeth @ The Long Beach Aquarium

We did a variety of activities before and after an outing.

Scooping gems into a fish ice tray

I am a big proponent of Montessori activities for young children. When my daughter was a toddler and early preschooler, we did a lot of fine motor skills activities. Montessori’s early lessons teach children important life skills. For example, learning how to properly use a spoon is a life skill you use when eating at the dinner table.

Putting Sea Creature Capsules In Water To Watch Them Grow

Inserting Umbrella Sticks Into A Block

Montessori education has a specific way you are suppose to present a child with a new activity. For example, for younger children activities are presented on a tray. I am not a Montessori purest in any form, but I like this aspect of their educational philosophy. Presenting an activity on a tray makes it easier for the child to understand the directions better. Furthermore, the child is responsible for cleaning up the activity when they are finished. Bonus point for mom!

Sea Shell Classification Activity

I also like to use themed based printables with my children. In the picture above, my daughter is sorting sea shells into different size categories; small, medium and large. This activity also functions as a vocabulary activity too.

I recommend visiting www.1plus1plus1equals1.com for printable ideas for your family. Just pick one or two ideas and give it a whirl.

Yesterday my friend Leo and I visited the lovely Paris In A Cup Tea Salon & Cafe in Orange. We had a very pleasant afternoon of tea and conversation amongst good friends.

Recently, I wrote a blog post titled The Best Places For A Tea Party in Southern California (http://socalfieldtrips.com/2014/03/19/best-places-for-a-tea-party-in-southern-california) and a friend of mine recommended Paris In A Cup Tea Salon & Cafe for the article. So a few weeks later, I connected with Cheryl Turner, the owner of Paris In A Cup, and set up a time to visit.

Leo at Paris In A Cup Tea Salon & Cafe

Paris In A Cup is a French themed Tea Salon located in Historic Old Towne Orange. It is an escape for those of us needing a little get-away. Inspired by old movies, especially those with a Paris theme, owner Cheryl has successfully brought Paris to Southern California.

Used by permission.

If I could describe Paris In A Cup in one word it would be elegant! From the moment we arrived to the end of our visit, everything and everyone was top notch. When we entered the cafe, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who escorted us to our beautiful table in the corner of the salon. Cheryl’s niece was our waitress and pleasantly answered all of our questions about the menu.

Used by permission.

From the menu, Leo and I decided to order a variety of dishes to expand upon our palette of French cuisine. We settled on the Juliette and The Marie Antoinette.

The Juliette includes a crock of their well known baked potato soup and a full sandwich of shaved turkey, cucumber and Gruyere cheese. It was served warm with a drizzle of honey-Dijon dressing on a toasted croissant.

The Juliette

The Marie Antoinette includes a pleasant arrangement of scones with crème and jam, a cup of French onion soup, four assorted tea sandwiches, a petite salad vert and finishes with petit fours. The most pleasing part of The Marie Antoinette was how they served the French onion soup in a beautiful tea cup.

The Marie Antoinette

Scones with crème and jam

My favorite item from the menu was the chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. It was so delicious that I ordered one for my husband to go.

For tea, I selected the Passion Berry Iced Tea and Leo selected the Orange Dulce by Mighty Leaf.

Enjoying tea together at Paris In A Cup in Orange, CA

What’s unique about Paris In A Cup is that they carry their own line of teas made exclusively for their salon and cafe. There was a significance difference between the quality of the tea I savored at Paris In A Cup and the tea I can buy at my local grocery store. Paris In A Cup’s tea is above par. I enjoyed it so much that I bought some tea for my mom for Mother’s Day.

Savoring Paris In A Cup’s Orange Dulce Tea

Another marked difference between Paris In A Cup and other tea shops is that Paris In A Cup has a professional chef on staff and his culinary skills are noteworthy.

For dessert, Leo and I enjoyed the Petit For Plate that displayed a beautiful arrangement of delicatessens. The plate included a 3 Citrus Lemon Tart, Strawberry Cheese Cake and a Chocolate Ganache Edible Chocolate Cup.

Petit For Plate

After finishing our tea, Leo and I visited Paris In A Cup’s boutique at the front of the store.

Paris In A Cup’s Boutique

They had a lovely selection of gifts, French gourmet chocolates and more. My friend Leo purchased a bag of rainbow colored pasta in the shape of the Eiffel tower for her children. Hence, Leo is from France.

Eiffel Tower Pasta From Paris In A Cup

They also have an online store where you can peruse their wide variety of teas and gifts.

A few additional notes about Paris In A Cup:

1. They are open Wednesday – Sunday.

2. They host tea parties for young women ages 13 and up.

3. I recommend Paris In A Cup for a mother daughter outing for girls ages 8+.

4. Weekends are their busiest time. Advance reservations are recommended.

5. Paris In A Cup is having a special Mother’s Day event at their salon on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. To make a reservation, please visit http://parisinacup.com/mothersday2014.html

GIVEAWAY TIME!

TEA FOR FOUR GIVEAWAY! Picture used by permission.

Paris In A Cup is hosting a GIVEAWAY for TEA FOR FOUR at their salon in Orange.

Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled “this could change your life.” – Helen Exley

Libraries are an intriquite part of our lives. We visit the library for a variety of reasons; to do research, learn a foreign language online, study for a test or to enjoy the numerous free children’s programs that are offered throughout the year.

Our local public library has especially enriched my children’s lives through their weekly story times and special programs. We have been going since they were practically born.

My son’s favorite time of year is when our library hosts their annual summer reading program. He is such an avid reader that last year he participated in two separate programs and is already counting down to next summer!

Recently, I reached out to a group of friends on Facebook and asked them which libraries had the best children’s programs in Southern California.

“When kids and teens explore, create and experiment in an informal learning environment like the library, they learn a lot – and have fun at the same time. They’ve assembled a variety of free STEAM-related programs and workshops that will inspire and motivate kids and teens with fun, hands-on learning activities.”

Porter Ranch

http://www.lapl.org/branches/porter-ranch

Visit their Mother/Daughter 4th and 5th Grade Book Club on 4/10 at 7:00 pm. Bring your moms and talk about books! Call the library at 818-360-5706 in advance for titles.

The Long Beach Public Library is celebrating National Library Month with the Grand Opening of the Library’s MakerSpace, “The Studio” on April 17. There will be demonstrations of their 3D printer, tablets, and computers.

Check out their current “One Big Appy Family! Building Digital Literacy Skills Kids Related Content” event taking place on April 17 at 7:00 p.m.

Cen Campbell of littleelit.com and Carisa Kluver of digital-storytime.com will discuss “using technology to build relationships and improve reading readiness – at the same time! Parents with questions or concerns about screen time and using tablets or SmartPhones with their preschoolers are in luck, thanks to a new program designed to build digital literacy skills. This fun and informative program includes expert recommendations for using screen technology with young children. Parents will learn how to incorporate digital technology as part of a healthy media diet and will receive recommendations for apps and eBooks that will entertain and educate their youngsters.” For more information call the Youth Services Desk at 949-830-7100, ext. 5107.

Check out their “First Sundays” program every month between October – May from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. They feature stories, crafts and fun at the main library. For April, the children will create their own clay masterpieces and see a Special Balloon Magic show by Arty Loon. Don’t forget it is free too!

Come see Arctic Norwegian and Swedish Stories, Songs and Games on 4/10 at 10:30 am. Artist Stina Fagertun performs unique stories and music from the peoples of her native northern Norway. Musician Ross Sutter, from Minnesota, is a multi-instrumentalist and singer of traditional music from many countries. Best for ages 4 and up!

The San Diego Central Library offers group tours of 11+ and specialized tours including art tours, architectural tours and green building tours are available by appointment only. To schedule a group tour, to cancel a tour or for other tour questions please contact librarytours@sandiego.gov

Mission Valley Branch Library

https://www.facebook.com/mvlibrary

Carmel Mountain Ranch Branch Library

https://www.facebook.com/carmelmountainlibrary

The North University Community Branch Library

http://friends.northuclibrary.org/childrens-programs-2/

Coronado Library

http://www.coronado.ca.us/library/

To learn more about National Library Monthtaking place April 13 – 19, please visit http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

This is a question I get asked often when I am either leading or planning a field trip or helping to promote a venue’s event across social media. I thought I would take a moment to answer that question today.

SoCal Field Trips is a blog dedicated to active families who enjoy adventuring out of the home and into the world of hands-on learning.“Field Trips” is our second name! Whether exploring the beautiful landscape of Newport Beach’s Back Bay to learning about the history of the Berlin Wall at The Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, we are dedicated to introducing our children to the vast array of fun and exciting learning opportunities throughout Southern California.

WHAT IS SOCAL FIELD TRIPS’ PURPOSE?

SoCal Field Trips’ vision is help advance the knowledge that field trips are an important part of every child’s learning experience! Big or small.

Most people learn through:

5% – 15% of Verbal or Written

10% – 20% Visual

40% – 50% Visual and Verbal

60% – 70% Discussion

90% of what you experience

Dr. Nancy Tobler’s 194 meta-analysis of 143 school based curriculum

90% of us learn through experience! Real life experiences connect the mind to the soul. When children look back upon their most memorable moments in school they often recall a field trip experience. For example, my favorite memory was when I went on a field trip to San Francisco with my 4th grade teacher. Mr. Fifthian had the unique ability to combine classroom learning with real life experiences. Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge at the age of 10 is a memory I will never forget!

If you live in Southern California, you live in what I like to call “The Field Trip Capital of The World!” There are so many wonderful learning opportunities for families and schools here it is endless. To get you started, I recommend you visit http://www.pinterest.com/socalfieldtrips/

WHO IS BEHIND SOCAL FIELD TRIPS:

My name is Jilleen and I am the founder of SoCal Field Trips. I personally come from a long line of field trip planners. As a child, my mom and aunt were very passionate about exposing their children to different people and places. Some of my favorite memories were visiting the Isleton Crawdad Festival in Isleton (http://www.isletoncoc.org/crawdad.html, watching The Bass Derby Parade in Rio Vista (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rio-Vista-Bass-Derby-Festival/111029228908870) and following Humphrey The Whale news sightings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_the_Humpback_Whale). I give thanks to my family for instilling in me the joy of life long learning.

Prior to field trip planning, I was a Professional Singer and Speaker.

In my “pre-kid” life, I released three Christian music albums and traveled the globe doing what I love the best. Experiencing different cultures and places. However, in my “post-kid” life, I decided to stay home and raise a family.

Fast forward a few years later, I am now the Field Trip Coordinator for an amazing homeschool organization called Celebration Education (www.celebrationeducation.com). It happened by chance, when a woman named Windi, noticed that I was planning field trips for my own children on Facebook and inviting others to join along. She then proceeded to ask me to join Celebration Education and help plan field trips for their organization.

A big shout out and thank you to Windi and Heather from Celebration Education for all your support and encouragement as I have launched SoCal Field Trips. And furthermore to the homeschooling community at large and fellow bloggers who believe in my of vision of “field trips for everyone”.

MEET THE SOCAL FIELD TRIPS CREW:

Meet Jilleen! Founder and Blogger at www.socalfieldtrips.com

Meet Mr. SoCal Field Trips! He is my biggest supporter and advocate of what I do.

Meet Field Trip Girl! My daughter loves all things about the ocean and space. She enjoys visiting The Long Beach Aquarium and The California Science Center.

Meet Field Trip Boy! My son really enjoys hands on learning and visiting The Discovery Science Center and The New Children’s Museum of San Diego.

In closing, we hope you come to know SoCal Field Trips as a reliable source for amazing field trips and fun family outings throughout all of the southland.